Cake icing machine



J. R. LlTTY CAKE ICING MACHINE Feb. 4, 1958 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN YS Feb. 4, 1958 u J. R. LITTY 2,821,958

CAKE ICING MACHINE ..0 blanc o INVENTOR.

JOHN R. LI TTY FIG, 6.

ATTORNEYS I Feb. 4, 1958 J..R; LlT'rY CAKE ICING MACHINE 4 sne'ets-sheet s Filed Aug. 16, 1955 INVENToR.

JOHN R. LITTY ATTQRNEY Feb. 4, 1958 J. R. LITTY CAKE ICING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 16. 1955 FIG.7.

NVENTOR.

JOHN R. L|TT-Y BY l/(hv q @J7 ATTORNEYS FIG.5.

United States Patenti@ fr' CAKE IcING MACHINE John R. Lidy, Goshen, N. J.

Application August 16, 195s, serial No. 528,581

7 claims. (Cl. 11s-2s) This invention relates to a machine for the depositing of materials into various sizes and shapes of containers and for automatically decorating pies, cakes, `and other objects.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a machine for the depositing of materials into containers such as pie pans, cake pans, etc. or for the application of icings and toppings on cakes, pies, etc. in a decorative pattern or in such a fashion that it may be spread by hand to produce the desired results and has replacement elements so that the form or decoration may be readily changed and produced in any desired pattern, design or lettering required.

The invention is particularly applicable to the depositing of icing on cakes though the broader vuses are as indicated above. For consistency, the description will be primarily directed to icing.

In accordance with the invention there is automatically measured a quantity of icing suitable for the results desired. A piston and cylinder arrangement associated with valve means controls the feed of icing. p v g 1 In particular the machine is designed for the rapid icing of successive cakes, the parts being driven at such speed vthat an operator receiving cakes on a conveyor mayplace them in position to be iced, and when the icing is completed may remove them to effect very rapidly the icing of successive cakes.

The foregoing andother objects of the invention; particularly relating to details of construction and operation will become apparent from the followingdescription -read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the lower portion thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine; p

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the machine showing certain details in section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view` of the cake support, the View being from the plane indicated at 5-5 in Figure 2; v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view looking downwardly from the plane indicated at 6 6 in Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing a portion of a piston with an associated valve. l

The machine comprises a framework of structural elements suitable for support of the operating parts `and'has a form which will be yapparentfrom the drawings without detailed description. Mounted in the frame is a -hopper 2 into which icing may be poured from time to time, the hopper providing the supply oficing. i The hopper delivers the icing into a generally cylindrical space 4 which is arranged to be closed at its lower end and opened at proper times by k a pair of slides 6 and 8 which meet each other with provision of au opening embracinga vertical shaft 10. `Belowy'th: plates 6fand'8 the shaft jlsupports a piston 12`wh'ich is provided with an annularwall" `14 slidingl ina 'xed cylinder 18 and spli'ued theretoatl so I 3,821,958 Patented Feb. 4, 1958 as to be restrained against rotary motion while free to slide vertically. A valve member 21 is positioned against the piston 12. As will be hereafter described, both the piston and the valve member are slotted and they are relatively movable. The shaft 10 is arranged to oscillate relatively to the piston through the pivot arrangement indicated at 11. The bottom of the cylinder 18 is arranged to be closed by a sliding plate 20 which moves transversally above a fixed plate 22 secured in position by wing-nuts 26. The plate 22 is replaceable by substitute plates and is provided with a series of openings 23 which are in alignment with and surrounded by cylindrical elements 24 desirably having serrated lower edges to provide for the proper feed and distribution of the icing on the cake. The openings just referred to are arranged to be aligned, during movements of the slide 20 with corresponding openings 25 in Vthe slide which constitutes a valve for selectively providingor interrupting the flow of icing.

Abutment screws 28 supported by a bracket 29 from slide 8 are arranged to actuate the slide valve member 20 by engagement with crossbars 30 and 32 which may be adjustably secured to the valve member 20 so as to adjust the length ofits strokes.

Below the hopper there is located the cake support 34 which is provided with guide elements 36 arranged to locate a cake incentral position for icing. The elements 36are segmentalin form and are desir-ably downwardly tapered inwardly to facilitate placement of the cake in the position indicated in Figure 5 at C.

The machine is driven bymeans of a motor 38 which, through an adjustable cone pulley and belt arrangement 40 for speed adjustment, drives through the reduction gear box 42 an output shaft 43. This shaft carries a cam 44 arranged to rock a bell crank 46 which is journalled on a transverse shaft 47. Also -journalled on this shaft is an arm 48 which is adapted to be pinned to the laterally extending arm of bell-crank 46 by a pin 50 mounted .in a bracket 51 carried by the arm 48 andurged inwardly by -a spring 53 to enter an opening in the bell-crank arm. The pin 50 has a semi-cylindrical washer 50 affixed thereto against which the spring acts. A link 55 is slotted at 57 to slide on a fixed pin and at 59 to slide on the pin 50. A cam 61 is formed on this link and is arranged when the link is pulled forwardly to act against the washer 50' and disengage the pin 50 from the bell-crank arm. This arrangement is provided to permit the operation of the other parts `of the machine without effecting rise of the cake support, the driving arrangement for the cake support being` disconnected by a pull forwardly on the link 55 and restored by pushing this link rearwardly. The arm 48 is connected by a link 52 to a crosshead 54 which is'pro- -vided with a cylindrical extension 63 slidable in a fixed portion of the frame and prevented from rotating by a crosshead 65 slidable in a slot in a fixed vertical member 67. A screw 69 threaded into the member 63 and provided with a handle 71 for adjustment has an extension 56which is connected into a thrust bearing 73 carried by the cake support. Adjustment of the screw 69 accordingly serves to adjust the cake support vertically with respect to the carrier 63 to provide for the suitable` location of the support in icing cakes of various heights.' A guide rod 58 slides in a bearing member in the 4crosshead 54. The foregoing elements provide for vertical oscillations of the cake support, a buffer spring 75 being provided to take up shock in its downward moment. The cam 44 is so contoured as to provide upper and lower rest periods of the support for the icing operation and` for re.- placement of cakes thereon. s

The shaft 43 drives through the sprocket and chain arrangement indicated at 60 an upper transverse shaft 62 fromv which the various motions of themachine are derived. Suitablyfeontoured' cam 61 on this shaft'oscillates levers 64 andr66 xed to la shaft 63 and which-are respectively connected through links 68 and 70 to arms 72 and 74 carried by shafts 76 and 7S which through rarms and linksl80 and 82 serve to move vtheslidesf'6andf8 1in unison outwardly and inwardly. AAt'fthe ends foffthe strokes of slides 6 and 8.'the valve member 20 isalso moved by engagement of-'pins 28 with the crossmembers 30 and 32,-thermovements of the valve member 20'being relatively slighband only sufficient tomove the icingfeed openings into-and out of alignment. l

Another cam on shaft 62 serves ..tooscillate a lever 184 mounted on a transverse fshaft 7S6and I'provided with 'the adjustable lpivot 88 'ffor `a flink 90, adjustment being provided by the adjustment lof-thefpivot Ablock byfmeans 4of screw 139, the block -.being-guided in an arcuate -slot 91 in thellever. Atits upper end 'the link t90 vis-'con vnected :to the lever -9'2 pivoted on La shaftfll' and lforked .at its lforward end where ity is provided with-'rollers`596 .engageable Awithin a groove in ia `spool-member298-'secured to .the shaft 10. By the arrangement tjust ldescribed verticalmovementsare'imparted to the shaft -10.

VAnotherlever 10i) is drivenby a camon shaft-62'and serves through" link l102"to operate =a bell-crank -104 jour- :nalledron ythe shaft .94' and connected by link 106fto'ar1 :arm lI108-1secured 'tothe spoolmember 98. This last .ar-

rangement serves to provide oscillating 'movement-s throughtheshaftll kto the valve member S21 which is se- :cured'to .the lowerend offthisshaft. The lvalve member .t2-1 oscillates with respect fto the upper ysurface of the piston .1.2, lthepiston and valve member being v provided Awith radial openings 'which 4may be -cau'sed ato lassum'e positions of alignment or-'misalignment to-effect-fopenin'g .or closing of the communication fbetween thespacesfabove :and below :thefpiston .Afsegmental showingr of vthe 'ar'- rangementiof the `piston and valve appears in Figure7.

'.The'operationfofthe machine is as follows:

1A l.p1ate'l22 isrsecured in position by lwing nuts 26. Such platefwillbe provided withl openings and feed members 24 '.in the 'desired configuration to provide `therequired 'ornamentation-or distribution of icing. A "corre- -sponding slide -is providedrhaving openings 25 corre- ,sponding to those inithe1plate 22. The feed of icing'then -takes place as follows-during operation ofthe machine:

Assuming the shaft 10 in .its .uppermost position 4"and .with the valvezmember 21 in position closing loi com- ;munication between the spaces Yabove and below i'the Izpiston, there willlbe yicing both'abovefandbelowlhe pisltonand in ,the-:supply hopperl2. .Assuming 'thatfthef'down ystroke-.ofitheis`haft 10is aboutto begin, the slides fkand I8 will be 2in their'outer position providingcommunication between the hopper and-:thefspacea'bove1the Apiston.' the same time .the pins 28 will be1inengagement with ,plates 32 with thezsli'de yalveL20fh-avingits openings-in alignment with those linrthe-lplate 22.l The` cake will be iinitsupper positionwith its top engaging orlsubstantially fin engagementwith 'thefeedamem'berslZi lAslthe piston `moves downwardly it `then fforces fthe'A icing 'beneath it Vin the cylinder :18 through the aligned fopeningslin valve member 20 and plate'22 `andinto the imemberst24 ifor 'application to the cake. Bylthe-adjustrn'ent ofthe pivot -88ithe length of piston stroke lmay. be'controlledwofseycure 'the `'desired feedof"icing throug'h displacement .'of thefpiston. l f

After the piston reachesthe lower'end -of its-stroke, ftheJmembers 6 and 8'are1movedinwardly to closed Apo- `sition and in .this action the Apins -28 engage theplates @to -move 'out of alignment rthe -openings yin 'the valve member `20 and plate 22.

Prior to the beginning of "the .stroke ofjshat 11), "the valve member 21 `opens communication between `the spaces aboveand below .the piston. .t'this timethe're will 'be 'above the piston "a new supply of ficing drawn .from` lthe lhopper during .f its `l'down stroke. .As .thejpiston then moves upwardly, since the'lower end of the cylinderlisfclosed, -icing ows through the piston openings uncovered by the valve member 21 so that as the piston rises the volume which it displaces beneath it is lled with icing. This is a forced action by reason of the fact that the plates 6 and 8 are in closed position. Thus, despite high viscosity of the icing, positive ow is assured, and, in fact, this isxthetcase in all of the icingmoving operations involved. During the rise of the piston the cake sup'port`34'ismoveii'downwardly for removal of the iced cake andmeplacement by another. When the piston reaches the upper end of its stroke, the valve member 21closes,"`the-plates f6 and-8 "are withdrawn "toopen communicationibetween the-.hopperzand the upper portion of cylinder 18, and the valve member 20 is moved toward the right as viewed in Figure 4 to open the discharge ports, the 4cake in the meanwhile having been moved to its upper ,position for reception of the icing. l'The cycle `'then-repeats as'descr'ibed'above.'

It willlbefevident from 'the"foregoing'that'there is provided V"an automatic machine-'providing `for positive feed of icing to cakes in patterns determined by the replace- 'ablemenibers-ZZ Vand "20. 'T he quantity 'of icing-whichA is "fed in a-single=cycle is-icontrllediby adjustment of pivot I '88? and 'may-'Vary from fa'qitesm'all quantity to aquite largequantitywhich may,fi nfetfect, cover-the'entire cake tif the members 221 arelprovi'dedfin considerable -number .fand-close together. The'latteriisldesirable -when acomplete coveringof 'the top of fa fcake is--to be provided. `=`While -theficingfas 'oiginally-iplaced'fmay -be 'in the fform of small dabs thereof, the operator with thezstroke ofa `:spatula :may readily aprovi'de :either leven spreading or .some desired vvunev'e'n-*lspreadin'g-esuchfasmay 1'be required. L`It wilL/ofcourse, be evidentfthat the? machine maybe applied to the icingof the individual layers of amultiple layer cake. It willbe'also -evident 'that the machine-may be used ffor 4-the'ffeedi'ng *of Iother 'viscous materials, for lexample, 'batters 'for-making cookiesy or lthe vlike Vormixtures for the makingfo'fconfectionery.

:It -will'bey evident that 'numerous variations may be 'made in 'details-of construction "and operation without 'departing from 'the invention asdened in vthe 'following claims.

1. An icing machine for cakes or otherA pastry comprisingr afsupport for the pastry, a 'distributing lmemberhaving *feed openings-"therein disposed above 'pastry Acarried lJyfsa'id jsupport, a cylinder having lits lower Aend Iassooited with {fsaid'openings,valve 'means Y controlling 'com- "munication between saidcylindenand 'said openings, a movable piston in said cylinder provided with openings, -:valve =means Y'controlling said-piston openings, a *supply hopper associated -uviththe upper --end of' said 4cylinder, imeans lcontrolling -'commun`ication `between fsaid hopper and said -cylindeneandmeanseffecting-'cyclic operation of `the 'aforementionedparts-Lwherebyduring `Ya downstroke of 'saidy pistonfits openings are clo'sed,'it'draws icing rfrom the hopper and forces icing through said feed openings, "and wherebyduring-'an Lupstroke fof' '-said piston its vopeniings are^opene`d, Lcorr'lmunication between fthe "hopper 'and lupperspo1tiono'f the'cylinder `is closed off, iand sa'idl feed openings are closed off, thereby'effectingtransfer'of icing fromfabovethepiston to `belowthesame. l

yAn 3icingimachineV according lto claim '1 provided -with adjustableemeansifor `operating sai'd piston to vary thestroketheredf.

'`3. niicingrmachine 'according to 'claim 'l vincluding means "for moving sa'id 'support between vpastry-receiving Aand -pastry-icing jpos'itions 'during 'the upstroke of said piston.

` 4. 'Anji'cing .machine ;'for cakes ,or other y, pastry ,com- ,pris'ing a. support for .the'pastry, a distributing mem'ber having''feed ,openings `therein disposed `.above pastry carriedbysai'd support,.a eylindenhaving .it s.1owerA end associated with said openings, valve means controlling communication between said cylinder and said openings, a movable piston in said cylinder, means controlling communication between the opposite sides of said piston, a supply hopper associated with the upper end of said cylinder, means controlling communication between said hopper and said cylinder, and means effecting cyclic operation of the aforementioned parts whereby during a downstroke of said piston communication between its opposite sides is closed, and it draws icing from the hopper and forces icing through said feed openings, and whereby during an upstroke of said piston communication between its opposite sides is opened, communication between the hopper and the upper portion of the cylinder is closed olf, and said feed openings are closed off, thereby effecting transfer of icing from above the piston to below the same.

5. An icing machine according to claim 4 including means for moving said support between pastry receiving and pastry icing positions and means for interrupting the operation of said support moving means.

6. An icing machine for cakes or other pastry comprising a support for the pastry, a distributing plate having a plurality of spaced feed openings therein disposed above pastry carried by said support, a cylinder having its lower end associated with said plate, a valve plate positioned in sliding engagement with said distributing plate and provided with a plurality of spaced bores, means for moving said plates relative to each other to bring said bores into and out of alignment with said openings to control the passage of icing therethrough, a movable piston in said cylinder provided with a plurality of spaced openings, valve means controlling said piston openings, a supply hopper associated with the upper end of said cylinder, means controlling communication between said hopper and said cylinder, and means effecting cyclic operation of the aforementioned parts whereby during a downstroke of said piston its openings are closed, it draws icing from the hopper and forces icing through said feed openings, and whereby during an upstroke of said piston its openings are opened, communication between the hopper and upper portion of the cylinder is closed off, and said feed openings are closed off, thereby effecting transfer of icing from above the piston to below the same.

7. An icing machine for cakes or other pastry comprising a support for the pastry, a distributing member having feed openings therein disposed above pastry carried by said support, a cylinder having its lower end associated with said openings, valve means controlling communication between said cylinder and said openings, a movable piston in said cylinder provided with a plurality of radially extending openings, valve means including a plate positioned in sliding engagement with said piston and provided with a plurality of radially extending openings and means imparting rotary movement to said plate to bring said piston and plate openings into and out of engagement with each other to control flow of icing through said piston, a supply hopper associated with the upper end of said cylinder, means controlling communication between said hopper and said cylinder, and means effecting cyclic operation of the aforementioned parts whereby during a downstroke of said piston its openings are closed, it draws icing from the hopper and forces icing through said feed openings, and whereby during an upstroke of said piston its openings are opened, communication between the hopper and upper portion of the cylinder is closed olf, and said feed openings are` closed off, thereby eifecting transfer of icing from above the piston to below the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Riza June 21, 1955 

